Global warming has been an immense problem throughout the world, and still it is an important topic that not enough people are taking seriously. Did you know that carbon dioxide levels in the air are at their highest in 650,000 years? Or that 18 of the 19 warmest years on record have occurred since 2001? And, in 2012, Arctic summer sea ice shrank to the lowest extent on record. These facts from NASA are both saddening and worrisome, as we truly have no idea what to expect in the future, as our carelessness for mother nature only continues to worsen.

While many people argue that just themselves alone cannot help with this issue, they are simply ignoring the little things that can easily be done to solve part of the problem. By switching to energy-efficient light bulbs, unplugging computers, TVs, and other electronics when you’re not using them, washing clothes in cold or warm water, or by hang-drying your clothes, you are contributing to help fix the problem. These methods are not new or life changing; while they may not necessarily stop the polar ice caps from melting, these actions make you more energy-efficient, which means that, by just doing those few things you are polluting less, which is where we should all start.

Really, anyone can help to reduce this problem; it does not matter your age, where you live, or how much this issue actually affects you. You don’t have to be a climate change activist to help. By just being mindful of your actions and making a few small changes to your daily life where you can, you’re already doing more than most.